Racing Pigeons in Sports Illustrated

[SmithFamilyLoft]

I got a call today that there is an article in the January 28, 2008 issue of
Sports Illustrated written by Chris Ballard. As I read a few lines into the article, it became very apparent that the writer had no interest or love for pigeons.

From my perspective, the article was a hachet job on the sport. The first few lines pretty much gives you the tone of the article.

"I knew I was too involved when I got a frantic call from Gustavo. I needed to hear the truth about the race, he said. Things had gotten out of hand. Now there were threats. People might sue. The syndicate from Arizona was pissed. So was the crew from Colorado and the team from Wales, not to mention the Germans, in their matching jackets and rented BMWs. Hundreds of thousands in bets and prize money on the line, and now one accusation after another."

How did it come to this? All these men arguing over a bunch of birds. And not just any birds. Pigeons. But that’s getting ahead of the story. Better to rewind to when I first heard about the Vegas Classic, the biggest pigeon race in the U.S., a 300-mile airborne sprint for hundreds of Columba livia. The source was a shady friend of a friend who went on about international gamblers obsessed with these tiny, molting Secretariats. I was intrigued. Who were these people? Why did they do it? And what was so wrong with horses, dogs and long-limbed athletes that they preferred to wager on creatures best known for loosing their stool upon statues of civic leaders? In pursuit of answers, I boarded a *November flight for that great, blinking metropolis in the desert......

[mr squeaks]

Gee, Warren...that article was just getting more interesting...

What else did he say? Obviously not a pigeon fan!

Mmmm, Arizona??? Wonder if that involved a man I know here who races pigeons?

Shi

[Lovebirds]

That don't sound so good huh? Guess I need to go buy the magazine and see what it's all about.

[Lovebirds]

I just found this on the web site. I THINK it's the article. Going to read it now.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...128/index.html

[SmithFamilyLoft]

Send me an email SmithFamilyLoft@aol.com and I will email it to you. It was too large to post on here...25,000+ characters. Don't want anyone to support the magazine by purchasing a copy.

[SmithFamilyLoft]

Yep.....just look at the link...

[k-will]

that has to be one of the worst written articles and one sided opinions i have evr read in all my years of pigeon flying.what a sad disgrace of an article.

[LokotaLoft]

I have to agree , he sure did a good job of making pigeon people look like idiots even took away the magic of how they are true chapions in their quest for home oii , this guy needs a slap.. or two

[LokotaLoft]

plusssss ...you can tell so much research went into that article too grrr ..still reading it ..

[mr squeaks]

Warren, I did read all 6 pages and while the author is, indeed, NOT a pigeon fancier, he sure does have a way with words!!

What a shame the race turned out the way it did...

Sorry, but there WERE sections that I found quite humorus!

Of course, he sure didn't change MY mind about pigeons!

Even WITH the negative aspect, thanks for bringing the article to our attention! BTW, I DID learn a little more about pigeon racing!

Shi

OOPS, looks like I am DEFINITELY in the minority with my opinion(s)...

[Lovebirds]

Well..............I've read the article two times. Obviously, this writer does not, nor will he ever see pigeons the way that WE do.......however, he's apparently quoting some of the things that he heard or that were said to him. He's got specific names attached to some of the quotes and I doubt (guess I could be wrong) that he would directly quote someone as saying something that they didn't say. Aside from this writers personal views on pigeons, which, by the way he has a right to, whether we like it or not, I'm not seeing very much wrong with what he's written.
No matter what we think, this writer can't see past the "rats with wings" and the pigeon poop. He's not the ONLY one in the world who thinks that you know. And after spending three days amongst pigeon fanciers, actually going into a loft, actually seeing a drop of birds.........it obviously just didn't thrill him. It's HIS problem........
There was the comment "Thus Sittner's lofts are like smelly, poop-encrusted vaults".....do any of you personally know Sittner? Have you been to his loft? I surely haven't, so I have no idea how he keeps them. If that's the way this guy sees the lofts OR that's the way the loft WAS the day he was there..........what are you supposed to do?
As far as the pigeons fanciers being made to look like idiots.......well, it WAS announced that this writer was there. THEY were the ones running off at the mouth.
If I'm missing something.......please enlighten me........I'd be curious to know exactly what you guys are reading that you don't like or agree with.

[LokotaLoft]

i guess it is a to each his own kinda article and I just dont see how he wasnt entertained or amused by all that went on around him .. I mean hes got 6 pages of stuff written there All I can really say is why couldnt they of had someone that had at least some interest in what went on do the article to give the pigeon what it is due ..its not like pigeons get anything out of all the work they put in

[LokotaLoft]

oh and one more thing ,my pigeons have decided after all this not to renew their subscription to the sports illustrated pigeon swimsuit addition

[k-will]

i must admit the second time i read it i was only half as mad.what do i personally have a problem with in this article?1) this person is using all the old sayings about pigeons,and molding a readers opinion on them before he himself even gets to the beginning of the event.and he admits he has no knowledge of them while hes doing this.2)he is interviewing people that are drunk(i assume they were) and using some of their comments for forming a opinion on the whole ordeal when you cant tell me he didnt speak to others during this that would have spoken more rationally and probably alot more intelligent about pigeons.3)then when he does finally speak to someone who i know is a good pigeon man and would never put pigeons in a bad light,he makes fun of the mans bad luck in my view,and then in a national magazine insults the mans lofts and puts the whole thing in a bad light.(which he apparently was out to do in the first place.)i could really go on and on about this.i might say pigeon talk isnt the only place i heard about this from,and non pigeon flying people that know me brought this to my attention as well.they had a similiar opinion to me and they dont even fly pigeons,and only have learned basic knowledge about the sport from me.im just flat disgusted

[zimmzimm3]

It just seems like he didn't even give the sport or the pigeons a chance based on the first part of the article that was written before he even went to the race. What ever he sure doesn't know what he is missing lol.